How do EpiPens work?

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you how to use an EpiPen. Then, if you have a severe allergic reaction, you’ll self-inject EpiPen, or someone else will do it for you.

Instructions for using an EpiPen can be found in the leaflet that comes with it. EpiPen also comes with a trainer autoinjector (“dummy” EpiPen). You can use it to practice giving an EpiPen injection.

Where to inject

You’ll inject EpiPen into the muscle of your outer thigh. You can give the injection through clothing.

If you’re administering EpiPen to a child, it’s important to hold their leg firmly during the injection. This stops them from moving their leg and helps prevent injury. Your child’s doctor can show you how to hold their leg properly.

Here are some important points to note:

  • Do not inject EpiPen into the buttocks. EpiPen may not work to treat the allergic reaction if you inject it into the buttocks.
  • Do not inject EpiPen into the hands, fingers, feet, or toes. If you accidentally inject it in these places, get emergency medical help right away. Injecting EpiPen in these places can stop blood flow to the injected area. To help prevent an accidental injection, never put your hand, fingers, or thumb over the orange end of the EpiPen.
  • Do not inject EpiPen into a vein. This could cause a sudden increase in blood pressure, which can lead to life threatening bleeding in the brain. EpiPen should be given through the skin into the muscle of the outer thigh.

When to use

Your doctor will explain when to use an EpiPen. Typically, you’ll give the injection as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction start.* Your doctor will likely recommend to always keep your EpiPen with you in case of a severe allergic reaction.

Note: It’s important to get emergency medical help right after injecting EpiPen. This is because the allergic reaction could come back and you may need further treatment. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away or go to the nearest emergency room.

* To learn more about the use of EpiPen, see the “EpiPen use for allergic reaction” section below.

Accessible labels and containers

Some pharmacies offer labels that have large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to direct you to one that does.

EpiPen dosage

The following information describes EpiPen and EpiPen Jr doses that are typically used or recommended for severe allergic reactions. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

EpiPen comes as an autoinjector (automatic injection device) containing a single dose of medication.

The auto injector is used to inject the drug into the thigh. You’ll self-inject EpiPen, or someone else can administer it for you. For details, see the “How to use EpiPen” section above.

EpiPen comes in two strengths:

  • EpiPen: 0.3 milligrams (mg) epinephrine per 0.3 milliliters (mL) solution
  • EpiPen Jr: 0.15 mg/0.3 mL

Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful. At LIFEID, we want to help keep you safe. That’s why we recommend one of our medical ID bracelets, Apple watch sleeves, or watch accessories, which can speak for you in the case of an emergency. Our medical IDs can also help keep track of your medications and inform your emergency contacts in an emergency as well. Find out more below:

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